Warren Industries Renews Commitment
I am very pleased to report that the Economic Progress Alliance has reached agreement with its largest tenant to renew occupancy at the Crawford Business Park for three years. Warren Industries, headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin, has agreed to continue leasing 347,839 s.f. of space at the Park.
Warren Industries, Inc. is a recognized specialist in high volume, multi-operation, finishing, packaging and converting operations. They operate out of eight facilities located in Racine, Phoenix and Meadville. The Crawford Business Park location is its largest facility and services Kraft Foods contracts among others. Warren’s local employment is generally around 220 and grows to about 370 each year around the holidays.
Again, many thanks to Warren Industries for their continued commitment to Crawford County.
Until next time...
Mark Turner
News and Developments . . .
Universal Well Services was named the 2008 Winslow Award recipient at the 40th Annual Greater Meadville Area Day held Thursday, July 31st. The Winslow Award, named in honor of Dr. Harry C. Winslow, local physician, entrepreneur and community advocate, annually recognizes that area entity that has made a positive impact on the economic and social growth of Crawford County. Accepting the award for Universal were Bill Stoner, Vice President of Technical Services, Mike Kloecker, Manager of Corporate Development, John Stansfield, Vice President of Administration, and Jim Fontaine, Sales and Marketing Manager.
photo by Tom Surman
Headquartered in Meadville, Universal Well is an oilfield service company that provides a wide range of services for the oil and gas exploration and production industry primarily in the Appalachian Basin. Their core pressure pumping business includes cementing, hydraulic fracturing, acidizing and nitrogen capabilities to meet a full range of customers' needs both large and small. They have expanded their capabilities by adding well testing, flowback and slickline services in the Appalachian Basin and the Rockies.
Begun in 1980 as the idea of Jim Wilkes and Dick Remington. They formed a team of dedicated individuals and started operations in Meadville and Zanesville, Ohio in 1981. Almost instantly successful, they continued to grow and branch out until a market drop for their industry put Universal in a 15-year survival mode which they withstood through voluntary lay-offs and venturing into non-traditional services outside of their industry. As market conditions rebounded, so did Universal Well. Today they have ten sites or "camps" strategically located in six states, a fleet of 500 large vehicles and nearly 900 total employees, 170 of which are located in Meadville and are a wholly owned subsidiary of Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., the nation's second largest land driller.
Universal's commitment to excellence is reflected not only in the field but in their state-of-the-art fabrication and painting facility, product development lab, electronics and instrumentation lab, in-house training center, care of the environment and concern for their employees by providing them the safest work environment possible.
Congratulations to Universal Well Services and thank you for your commitment to your employees and your community.
The news has reported recently on what Americans nationwide are doing to save gas and the resulting effects from their actions. More and more people are using public transportation, car pooling, biking or motor cycling, and trading for smaller, more gas efficient cars. Companies, city governments and state governments are initiating programs to help reduce the cost of commute. Many companies have initiated four ten-hour work days per week or work-at-home days for employees. With all these changes in place, one recent report stated that 10 billion fewer miles were driven in one month. These programs are not only gas savings measures but are changing, maybe permanently, the way businesses will operate in a highly technological society.
We have heard local news reports of some companies in Crawford County and neighboring counties initiating gas savings days. We are just curious as to how many companies and businesses in our area have initiated or are planning to initiate such programs. We would like to very informally run a survey for you to tell us:
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have you initiated any gas savings programs?
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if so, give a general description of what you are doing, i.e. work-from-home, four 10-hour days, etc
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what is the furthest distance approximately any of your employees have to travel?
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if not, have you considered doing some type of program?
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have you considered it and decided against it? Why?
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what is the type of business you are in?
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what is the approximate number of your employees?
If you would like to contribute to our in-house informal survey, just email us with your answers. No company information will be released. We are only interested in numbers, types of programs, types of business using the initiatives, success of programs or any issues that might have arisen. From that we can discern how Crawford County relates to current changes in practice.
The growing season in full force with the fresh fruit and vegetables that can be found at the Market House and local stands. Did you know that Pennsylvania produces 465 million pounds of mushrooms, 82 million pounds of pumpkins, 442 million pounds of apples, 71 million pounds of peaches and 68,000 tons of grapes yearly. Also, more than 3,000 Pennsylvania farm families who manage 50,000 acres of vegetable crops produce more than 204,000 tons of vegetables for fresh markets and processing companies each year.
source: PA Preferred
The NW Commission will sponsor a Loan Workshop for commercial lenders, Business Retention and Expansion and other economic development professionals from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2008, at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville.
The seminar will include presentations on Department of Community and Economic Development loan programs, the PEDFA Bond program, the NW Commission's programs for businesses, business growth services, manufacturing excellence, distressed company assistance and tax credits to eligible businesses. A Q&A period will follow the presentations.
There will be a continental breakfast and lunch will be provided at 12:30 p.m. Registration fee is $40. For more information or to register for the seminar, contact Ethel Rodebaugh at the NW Commission, 814-677-4800 x 113.
Pennsylvania International Week is a series of presentations, seminars and networking events designed specifically for Pennsylvania companies interested in exporting. It will be held at various locations throughout the Commonwealth during the month of September in collaboration with the Regional Export Network Partner. In northwest Pennsylvania, the event will be held Wednesday, September 10th at the Radisson Hotel in Sharon in conjunction with network partner, the Northwest Commission.
The event is an opportunity for local businesses to schedule one-on-one business appointments with Pennsylvania's team of Authorized Trade Representatives to discuss objectives and market entry strategies to successfully compete in the global marketplace. Representatives will be on hand from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, France, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
For more information about Pennsylvania Trade Week, contact Katarina Ishman of the NW Commission at 814-677-4800 x 131.
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Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County
764 Bessemer Street, Suite 101
Meadville PA 16335
814-333-2299
08/15/2008